Friends remember 16-year-old victim of drive-by shooting
GLENDALE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - We're learning more about one of the three people killed in a drive-by shooting at a Glendale party last weekend.
Friends of the 16-year-old Yovani Flores say he was trying to keep other people from getting into a fight, but instead became the victim of a random and senseless shooting.
The other victims are Sean Marquez of Glendale and Jose Aquiree-Martinez of Scottsdale. They were both 19 years old.
Police are still looking for five young men in an older, white sedan who sprayed the house with bullets after an altercation sometime after 3:00 a.m.
"He was such a great guy. He loved everyone. Everybody loved him. He didn't deserve to die the way he did," said Angelica Beltran about Flores.
"All the great memories with him. He was our class clown.. made us laugh, said jokes. I still cannot believe he is gone. He should have never hung out with the bad influences or we would have him here," said Daniel Najera.
Those house parties with strangers, alcohol and guns -- that's the problem, Flores' friends say.
"Stop partying and being with wrong people. That causes people to lose someone. Yovani was close to me.. like a brother to me," said Elsa Nava.
Najera added, "I will tell you the truth. They are just a waste of time. It is okay to have a good time, but go to parties with people you know. Don't go to party where you don't know the people. That is where altercations start problems. You shouldn't be partying at three in the morning if you are 16, 17, 18.. it is not good."
Flores' friends and family have scheduled a car wash to help with funeral expenses at 8:00 a.m. on February 6 at Llantera Mil Amores, 706 W. Southern Ave. (near 7th Avenue and Southern) in Phoenix. A fundraiser has also been set up at www.gofundme.com/apmbpvtw.